The Western Cape Department of Infrastructure launched its Roads4U mobile app at an event at Ruslamere Conference Centre in Durbanville this week.
Designed to put road-maintenance reporting directly in the hands of the public, it allows residents to report various infrastructure defects such as road surface damage, faulty traffic signals and faded signage.
Real-time data
The initiative — a first for South Africa —aims to enhance the province’s road network by leveraging real-time data and citizen collaboration. Future updates will include a broadcast feature that provides all app users with real-time notifications on road closures and other important events, according to a media release by the department.
“A key citizen-focused feature of Roads4U is its ability to identify and send one’s report automatically to the correct road authority,” said Jandré Bakker, director of operational support of the department. “For example, if one logs a defect on a road managed by the City of Cape Town or Sanral the platform identifies the responsible authority and forwards it at scheduled intervals. The app informs one which authority has received one’s report and how to contact them.”
Key features of Roads4U
“The app automatically pins the exact GPS location of a reported defect to ensure accuracy,” Bakker said. “Users can upload photos and add detailed descriptions to assist repair teams. People who have reported road issues will receive status updates from the technical teams on their reports. Each report is assigned a unique reference number, allowing citizens to track the progress of their report if they don’t receive feedback through the app in time.”
Strategic importance
Tertuis Simmers, Provincial Minister of Infrastructure, highlighted the strategic importance of the tool.
“For years our engineers have used multiple internal processes to coordinate road–related work. Roads4U simplifies these workflows by directing the public to the correct official or authority, reducing unnecessary steps and delays. This modern approach strengthens collaboration and helps us maintain the best provincial road network in South Africa while ensuring our service delivery remains agile and responsive.
“The department has committed to prioritising safety-related issues. We encourage all road users to download Roads4U today to help keep the Western Cape moving.”
- The app is available on both Google Play and Apple Store. Download the app on Google Play at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=za.gov.westerncape.roadsforyou or on iOS at https://apps.apple.com/za/app/roads4u/id6752285666.
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